PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - W123 Tail light bubs

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCfriend (Post 2938540)

Little bulb is a running light or parking light in corner, since these side markers aren't reflective.
Sound like a reasonable theory...;)

Curious what the directions to add the stop bulb socket are?
Let me know if you go public with the directions

In the US models with side markers, these bulbs are located in the area where the tail light lens IS reflective. The purpose of the side marker light is to provide a marker light for other facing the subject vehicle from the side, to easily see the subject vehicle at night when the lights are on.

Here's an excerpt from Wikipedia:

Quote:

In North America, amber front and red rear side marker lamps and retroreflectors are required. The law initially required lights and retroreflectors on vehicles made after 1 January 1968. This was amended to require lights and retroreflectors on vehicles made after 1 January 1970.[29] These side-facing devices make the vehicle's presence, position and direction of travel clearly visible from oblique angles.[29] The lights are wired so as to illuminate whenever the vehicles' parking and taillamps are on, including when the headlamps are being used.[5] Front amber side markers in North America may be wired so as to flash in synchronous phase or opposite-phase with the turn signals, but are not required to flash at all.[30] Side markers are permitted outside North America, but not required. If installed, they are required to be brighter and visible through a larger horizontal angle than US side markers, may flash only in synchronous phase with the turn signals (but are not required to flash), and they must be amber at the front and rear unless the rear side marker is incorporated into the main rear lamp cluster, in which case it may be red or amber.[15] Some Japanese, European, British and US-brand vehicles have side markers in Europe and other countries where they are not required.
Japan's recent accession to internationalised ECE Regulations has caused automakers to change the rear side marker colour from red to amber on their models so equipped in the Japanese market.[31]